The trials and tribulations of tapping new tech November 7, 2017 "Neither Redbox nor Netflix are even on the radar screen in terms of competition.” Those are the words of Jim Keyes, the former chief executive of video rental giant Blockbuster back in 2008. Just five years after Keyes made that statement, Blockbuster went bust, swallowed whole by the mighty online streaming service that is Netflix. [...]
No monkey business: What the finance industry can learn by going back to basics November 2, 2017 There's a lot we can learn from our closest relatives. And no, I’m not talking about human relatives. I’m talking about those in the animal kingdom: monkeys. One thing monkeys can teach us about humankind is our predisposition to gamble. You’re probably wondering when you last saw a monkey in Paddy Power. And since when [...]
Cohabiting couples: Don’t get caught out November 1, 2017 As fewer couples choose to tie the knot, it’s clear that marriage is no longer widely seen as the be-all-and-end-all to a relationship. Instead, many couples are opting for the cohabitation route – as sexy as that sounds. Figures from insurance giant Zurich estimate that there are more than 400,000 cohabiting families in London alone. [...]
University challenge: The £50,000 question October 11, 2017 The new university term is now in full swing, and you might be relieved that your child is on their way to becoming a fully-fledged adult. But for many young people and their parents, university doesn’t quite bring the independence they expect. Tuition fees have gone through the roof, with most British students now forking [...]
Power to the people: Meet the P2P lender that uses a centuries-old way of lending September 21, 2017 Think back to 2001 when the Foot and Mouth epidemic raged across the UK. The outbreak led to the culling of thousands of animals, not to mention the loss of billions of pounds. It certainly took its toll on agricultural, leisure and tourism sectors over the years, and many needed funds to revitalise their business. [...]
Should investors be worried about an ETF bubble? August 29, 2017 Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have stormed the markets in recent years, which is hardly surprising when you consider the shedload of criticism the active management industry has faced over its failure to provide value. It’s clear that investors have been turning their backs on mutual funds and flocking to cheaper passive products – like ETFs – [...]
Debunking the peer-to-peer lending myths August 24, 2017 There's no doubt that peer-to-peer (P2P) lending has divided opinion. On one side, there’s a cohort of people who have nothing but praise for the sector’s ability to offer solid returns and raise investment for businesses. But P2P has also been plagued by criticism, with some high profile names claiming that it’s a disaster [...]
The Bank of Mum and Dad: Should you gift or loan? August 17, 2017 Young adults are feeling the pinch. Not only are property prices shockingly high, but student debt and stagnant wages are putting a strain on savings, making it difficult for many young people to even fathom the prospect of affording a house. Research from the Resolution Foundation shows that millennials are the first generation ever to [...]
Seven common mistakes made by day traders August 15, 2017 When it comes to trading, it’s all about the survival of those with the fittest strategies. The rapid pace of buying and selling securities can lead to mistakes which can quickly erase your capital, and if you’re new to the game then it’s crucial that you’re aware of the common errors that many traders [...]
No need to worry about China’s debt bubble…yet August 8, 2017 China's debt mountain is massive, and concerns around the sustainability of the country’s credit-fuelled expansion are showing no signs of dissipating. The world’s second largest economy has certainly had its fair share of bad news recently after Moody’s downgraded its credit rating in May amid fears the nation’s growth rate would slow in the next [...]
